Old-man sells 'Ektara', one of India's ancient instruments at Dilli Haat in Delhi.
Ektar is a simple folk instrument. It is used to provide both a drone as well as simple rhytmic accompaniment to folk songs. It may be the oldest stringed instrument in the Indian subcontinent. The ektar is described in ancient Sanskrit texts as the ekatantri vina, literally the "one stringed lute". In Punjab the ektar is known as the tumbi
The construction is very simple, it is nothing more than a gourd which has been penetrated by a stick of bamboo. Another piece of bamboo forms the tuning peg. The bridge is merely a coin, piece of coconut, plastic or similar object. Ektars such as this are common in the south. In the north, their construction is a little more complicated. A membrane is stretched over the gourd and the bridge is placed over the taut membrane.
The term ektar literally means "one string", as such the term is loosely applied to a variety of one-stringed folk instruments. This includes such instruments as the tuntun, katho, anand lahari, and gopichand.
The ektar is very popular in folk music and has a strong rustic connotation. It is very much associated with the saint Mira Bai. The smaller Punjabi version (tumbi) is much associated with the bhangra style of song and dance. Among the Gadaba and Paraja tribes of Orissa, it is known as dudumah and dung-dungi.
DILLI HAAT is located in the commercial centers of South Delhi, opposite INA market. The 6 acres of land on which this complex is situated was salvaged as part of a reclamation project and transformed into a plaza. Extensive foundation work, small thatched roof cottages and kiosks give the plaza a village atmosphere. Some shops are permanent but other sellers are rotated, usually for fifteen days. Products offered may include rosewood and sandalwood carvings, embellished camel hide footwear, sophisticated fabric and drapery, gems, beads, brassware, metal crafts, and silk and wool fabrics. A number of shows promoting handicrafts and handlooms are held at the exhibition hall in the complex. To sell wares, there is an application process and spaces are allocated according to which state the seller is from. In all, Dilli Haat, INA Market has 62 stalls allotted on a rotational basis to craftsmen a payment of INR 100 per day for a maximum period of 15 Days.
Source : http://chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/ektar.html & Wikipedia
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